'74 Tsunami Pilothouse and Rehab

[Handful in NC]

I am about to replace the windshield and soft top on my '77 model with a hard top/enclosure. I am 6'3" and wanted to stand without hitting my head in the '74 model in this thread, but the height of the top messes up the esthetics of a beautiful hull. Since I mostly drive sitting down on the river, which is where the '77 model lives, I really don't need the headroom.

Below is the '77 model with its soft top on the Neuse River in New Bern, NC:



Below is a recent picture of the '74 model on Bogue Sound in Morehead City, NC. Man, do I love that boat! The great feeling I get every time I step aboard make all the time, money, and effort that went into it worthwhile.




I plan to lower the hard top on the '77 hull about 8-10" and remove the side and front overhang. Removing the overhang will allow fabrication from a one piece mould, greatly reducing time and materials. The eventual goal is to make a prefab hard top available as a bolt-on retrofit for others, at reasonable cost. To get an idea of what it would look like, here is an edited image of the proposed design on the '74 hull.



This little voice keeps saying "A bridge would look so cool!", but it would be much too top heavy to be practical.

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.

(What's with having two of these boats? Well, I needed a good trailer, which basically came with a free Sceptre, and it's a shame to have learned so much on one refurb project and not use that knowledge again, and one thing led to another. Now I've got two great boats for less than most (non-Seacraft) people have in one. Judging from this forum, my story is far from unique!)

[jongolds]

It's more shelter than I personally would prefer. It's very nice as is but I would not carry it so far aft, maybe cut it off at the top of the fiberglass incline that met the original windscreen rather than the bottom, if that makes sense and assuming the windows could still be operable.

I would also leave it tall enough for stand-up room at the helm. I agree that it is not as pretty but I like standing.

[Entourage]

All it needs it looks like to me is a hydraulic hauler with a boom and start doing some lobstering.

[jongolds]

I just reread my comments and thought they seemed bit harsh. To be clear, it looks amazing as is. My comments were in regards to making a mold and selling it to others. It's a pretty tiny market to begin with so you need pretty wide based appeal.

[Handful in NC]

Coming up on 3 years of sun and salt, the topside paint was starting to lose a little gloss. The guys that clean and wax for hire are either not thorough or very expensive, sometimes both. Bushwacker has been an advocate of Poly Glow for years, so after reading his comments I ordered a starter kit. On a cool cloudy day, I cleaned the top sides with the provided cleaner (spray, light scrub, rinse), let it dry for an hour, and then wiped it down 7 times with Poly Glow. Wow! After a few hours, the "wet look" was restored and my arms and back still worked. This was much, much easier than a wax job.

[Handful in NC]

The new top is made from the same mold as the first top, but reduced in height. Interior headroom is about 5' 8". It is much better proportioned than the top on the other boat, in which I could stand up straight (I'm 6'3"). Windows are on order from Wynne Enterprises.



And here are the roughed-in rear windows. I used 1/2" pvc board, which was MUCH cheaper ($100 for a 4X8 sheet) than Starboard, and also easier to work with. It can be glued, screwed, patched, and painted. In this situation, strength isn't really an issue.

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by Handful in NC

The new top is made from the same mold as the first top, but reduced in height. Interior headroom is about 5' 8". It is much better proportioned than the top on the other boat, in which I could stand up straight (I'm 6'3"). Windows are on order from Wynne Enterprises.

Is this sitting out in town somewhere where I can stop by and look at it one day? Like to do something similar on my 25' seafari.

[Handful in NC]

It's out of the water for some engine/outdrive work, which has been delayed by the cold weather we've been having. Hopefully it will be back on its lift in a few weeks.

[Handful in NC]

Winter project finished on the '77 Sceptre!!! Canvas enclosure replaced with a cabin. Interior head room is 5' 8". (The '74 was 6' 4" - great for standing but too tall esthetically. I think this one looks LOTS better.)

I can stand up in the open hatch - great when you need direct vision. The hatch is also a very convenient vent.







The cabin doors are 1/2" PVC board - so much better than starboard. (You can glue, screw, paint, and repair it, and it's a lot cheaper.)

[Ed]

Wow. I think it looks fantastic. Well done.

The purists will probably kill me, but now you have me wondering what a similar top would look like on my 1986 27 Tournament!